The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has apprehended a terror suspect in Manipur’s Churachandpur district, uncovering a transnational conspiracy that involves terrorist leaders from Bangladesh and Myanmar. The suspect, identified as Seiminlun Gangte, is alleged to have played a pivotal role in a plot to wage war against India by exploiting the ongoing ethnic unrest in Manipur.
The NIA announced the arrest via its official communication channels, revealing that Gangte is considered instrumental in conspiring with terrorist leaders in Myanmar and Bangladesh. These leaders are believed to have collaborated to exploit the Manipur crisis.
Gangte, who is now in custody and being transported to Delhi for questioning, also faces charges related to a car bomb blast that occurred on June 22 in Manipur’s Kwakta, resulting in the tragic loss of life. The explosion, which targeted a Scorpio SUV near a small bridge, bore the hallmarks of a well-planned and coordinated terrorist act.
While the NIA has not specified the terror group to which Gangte belongs, it is known that some 25 Kuki insurgent groups, primarily based in Churachandpur, have signed a trilateral Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with the Indian government, the state, and the military. This agreement mandates that insurgents reside in designated camps, with their weapons securely stored under monitoring.
However, concerns have arisen regarding the alleged participation of insurgents from groups covered by the SoO agreement in the ongoing violence in Manipur.
The NIA initiated this case independently in July, leading to Gangte’s arrest. The agency’s investigation has unveiled a sinister plot, with the NIA stating, “Investigation… revealed that Myanmar and Bangladesh-based militant groups have entered into a conspiracy with a section of militant leaders in India to indulge in incidents of violence with an intention to drive a wedge between different ethnic groups and to wage war against the government of India.”
To execute their agenda, these leaders have reportedly provided funds for procuring arms, ammunition, and other terrorist hardware, sourced both from across the border and other active terrorist outfits in northeastern states. Their aim is to exacerbate the ongoing ethnic strife in Manipur.
Seiminlun Gangte’s apprehension marks the second arrest of a terror suspect in Manipur within nine days. On September 22, the NIA had arrested Moirangthem Anand Singh in connection with a terror-related case.
As the investigation continues, the nation remains vigilant, and the NIA’s efforts underscore the imperative of countering transnational terror conspiracies aimed at destabilizing peace and harmony in the region.
Sources By Agencies